Environmental Taxes

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental taxes to inform further policy development on the Government's sustainable development strategy, with particular reference to climate change.

John Healey: Chapter 7 of Budget 2005, "Investing for our future: Fairness and opportunity for Britain's hard-working families", HC 372 contained assessments of all the main environmental taxes. The Government also published at Budget 2005 an independent evaluation of the Climate Change levy (CCL), "Modelling the initial effects of the climate change levy", by Cambridge Econometrics at Budget 2005 which is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk The Climate Change Programme Review, launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2004 is looking at Government policies more widely to tackle climate change and aims to report by the end of the year.

London Underground

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to meet the Mayor of London to discuss the renegotiation of the public-private partnership deal for the London underground; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: This is a matter for the Department of Transport. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr. Darling, made a statement last week.

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of (a) new building work and (b) refurbishment of buildings of (i) his Department and (ii) agencies of his Department has since May 1997 been subject to environmental assessment using BREEAM and BREEAM98.

John Healey: The HM Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road, London was assessed as "excellent" under BREEAM 98. The HM Revenue and Customs refurbishment of 100 Parliament Street was rated as "very good" under BREEAM 2003. The Office of Government Commerce have BREAAM assessments at "good" or above in place for 67 per cent. of their estate.
	HM Revenue and Customs do not hold information in the format and covering the time scales requested. Their STEPS PFI contract, which covers the majority of the HMRC estate, includes a requirement that all alternative facilities or refurbishments over £250,000 achieve a "very good" or "excellent" BREEAM rating.
	BREEAM assessments are not held for the Debt Management Office the Government Actuary's Department, Royal Mint or the Office for National Statistics.

Herceptin

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects Herceptin to be available to patients in Wales for the treatment of early stage breast cancer.

Nick Ainger: All women in Wales diagnosed with breast cancer can already be tested to see if they might benefit from Herceptin.
	Herceptin is currently available in England and Wales for patients in the later stages of breast cancer. It is also available for some patients in the early stages of breast cancer, though only in exceptional circumstances.
	The Secretary of State for Health has already asked the National Institute of Clinical Excellence to begin their preparatory work on Herceptin so they will be in a position to produce guidance quickly when the drug is licensed.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many volunteering positions his Department has offered in each of the last five years.

Nick Ainger: The Wales Office recognises the benefits of volunteering both to the individual and the organisation. Wales Office staff are able to take one day's special leave a year to take part in voluntary and community activities.
	The Wales Office considers requests from individuals who wish to volunteer within the Department. The Department does not hold information on the number of volunteering positions offered in each of the last five years. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hill Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average income for a hill farmer in (a) Cumbria and (b) England has been in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Information on the average income for a hill farmer in (a) Cumbria and (b) England in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:
	
		Net farm income—grazing livestock (LFA) farms £
		
			 March-February Cumbria England 
		
		
			 1997–98 21,500 12,700 
			 1998–99 12,400 6,200 
			 1999–2000 10,700 5,600 
			 2000–01 14,200 5,900 
			 2001–02(3) 17,700 7,400 
			 2002–03 20,100 17,700 
			 2003–04 16,700 14,900 
		
	
	(3) Excludes farms subjected to compulsory foot and mouth disease cull.
	Source:
	Farm business survey
	Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business.

Non-native Species

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in meeting the eight key recommendations contained in the 2003 review of policy on non-native species; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The review of non-native species policy was undertaken by a working group comprising representatives from Government, the devolved administrations, the statutory nature conservation agencies, conservation and animal welfare NGOs and the trade sector. Their report, published in 2003, contained eight key and 34 supporting recommendations.
	The review was carried out on a Great Britain basis, however, this answer relates to progress made within England, as responsibility for taking forward the recommendations falls to each of the devolved administrations. In 2003 a joint public consultation was published in England and Wales, containing the Government's response to each of the recommendations made in the report. A separate consultation was published in Scotland during 2004.
	In answering your question I will take each of the key recommendations of the working group in turn.
	(1) The Government should designate or create a single lead organisation to undertake the role of co-ordinating and ensuring consistency of application of non-native species policies across Government.
	In March this year Ben Bradshaw announced the setting up of a co-ordinating mechanism to ensure that policy and action on non-natives is joined up across Government and its agencies. The programme board held its first meeting on 12 September and plans further meetings on a quarterly basis. Minutes of the meetings will be published on the Defra website.
	(2) Develop comprehensive, accepted risk assessment procedures to assess risks posed by non-native species and identify and prioritise prevention action.
	A research contract to develop a comprehensive risk assessment methodology was completed in February of this year. The scheme is based upon the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) pest risk assessment scheme used for plant quarantine purposes, adapted to be applicable to all taxonomic groups. It has been designed to generate an assessment of risk based on a three point scale of high, medium and low risk. A joint programme of peer review and further testing is being agreed between Defra and the Scottish Executive and will begin shortly.
	(3) Develop codes of conduct to help prevent introductions for all relevant sectors in a participative fashion involving all relevant stakeholders.
	The first code of practice, for the horticultural sector, was launched by Ben Bradshaw in March 2003. It is published in full on the Defra website, and has been summarised in a leaflet. This code should form a template for other codes—one for each vector of introduction. The programme board has suggested that a code for the pet trade should be the next to be developed in close association with the industry.
	The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, currently before Parliament, includes a provision to give the Secretary of State the power to issue or approve codes of practice in connection with non-native species. These codes will not be statutory, but may be used as evidence in any court proceedings and may be taken into account by the court when sentencing. A similar power has already been introduced within Scotland.
	(4) Develop a targeted education and awareness strategy involving all relevant sectors.
	The programme board will establish working groups to take forward the review recommendations, and to fulfil our international obligations. It has suggested that an education and public awareness group should be established immediately. Membership of working groups will be drawn from Government and its agencies, the academic and professional sectors and non-governmental organisations.
	(5) Revise and update existing legislation to improve handling of invasive non-native species issue.
	A consultation on part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the principal piece of legislation which protects our native wildlife, was carried out in England and Wales last winter. This raised a number of issues associated with the legislative controls on non-native species, and we are taking forward two of these in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill. In addition to the power to issue or approve codes of practice, mentioned above, the Bill contains a power for the Secretary of State to ban the sale of certain non-native species, to be listed by order. There are no species proposed at this stage; any proposals will be the subject of full consultation in due course. We will develop a coherent package of further proposals for future consideration.
	(6) Establish adequate monitoring and surveillance arrangements for non-native species in Great Britain.
	A national audit of non-native species has been carried out within Scotland and England, and this will form the basis of a research project to be let shortly to carry out an audit of current monitoring activity in Great Britain in relation to non-native species. This will identify where the most significant gaps lie in existing capacity, and what improvements can be made.
	(7) Establish policies with respect to management and control of invasive non-native species currently present or newly arrived in the wild, and develop operational capacity to implement these policies.
	It is not possible to take action against all of the non-native species currently present in the wild. A sound risk assessment process will provide the scientific basis for decisions about priorities for management and control of individual species.
	(8) Stakeholders should be fully consulted and engaged in development of invasive non-native species policies and actions through a mechanism such as a consultative forum.
	The holding of a regular forum, to which all relevant stakeholders are invited, is a valuable way to ensure a wider understanding and ownership of the issues. Two annual events have been held to date, and a further forum is scheduled to take place next spring.

Trident Replacement

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 841, in which years he expects the decision on Trident replacement to be made.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) at Prime Minister's Questions on 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 841.

Abortions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what records are kept of attempted abortions which fail and where the foetus survives;
	(2)  how many attempted abortions in the United Kingdom failed and ended in a live birth in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary-under-Secretary of State for Health (Melanie Johnson) gave on 24 March 2005, Official Report, column 1043W.

Asthma

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to increase awareness of the effects of second-hand smoke on people with asthma.

Caroline Flint: The Government's 1998 White Paper, "Smoking Kills", made clear that second-hand smoke, also known as passive smoking, was harmful to asthma sufferers and that they were more prone to attacks because of breathing in other people's smoke. We have in place a comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking and reduce the illness and death caused by smoking.
	As part of our strategy, we have boosted our tobacco education media campaign, and from 2003, we have run campaigns raising awareness of the health risks of second-hand smoke. Our "Smoking Near Children" campaign was the first to raise the general public's awareness of the health risks to children of second-hand smoke.
	Our new second-hand smoke media campaign launched on 5 September 2005, which will run until the end of October, focuses on the health risks in the home—as most deaths and harm are due to second-hand smoke in the home.
	In September 2005, the national health service updated and reissued the leaflet, "Fact-Second-hand Smoke is a Killer", which gives the latest key facts on second-hand smoke. In the leaflet, it states that breathing in second-hand smoke doubles your chances of developing asthma, and if you are one of the 5.2 million people in the United Kingdom who already suffer from asthma, second-hand makes your breathing problems worse. A copy of the leaflet is available in the Library.

Breast Cancer

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether there are links between abortion and the incidence of breast cancer; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The Government believe that any woman considering an abortion must have all the facts to make an informed decision. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' (RCOG) evidence-based clinical guideline, "The care of women requesting induced abortion (2004)", states that professionals involved in abortion care should be equipped to provide women with information on the long-term effects of abortion which are rare or unproven, including breast cancer. The guideline also concluded, following an extensive review of the literature, that the evidence shows that induced abortion is not associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer.
	Cancer Research UK undertook a study of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, including a further international review of the research evidence on abortion and breast cancer. Last year, this study also concluded there is no link.

Breast Screening

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned into the provision of routine breast checks for women under 50 years of age.

Rosie Winterton: The Forrest report, on which the breast screening programme is based, recommended further research to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of offering routine screening to women under 50. This is under way, entitled "UKCCCR randomised controlled trial of the effect of breast cancer mortality of annual mammographic screening of women starting at age 40" (the 'Age' Trial).
	The main aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of annual mammographic screening of women starting at ages 40 to 41 on mortality from breast cancer, thus giving a definitive answer to the outstanding question of whether population screening below 50 is beneficial or not. The study began in February 1991, and recruitment to the trial has now stopped at 160,000 women. The results of this study are expected to be submitted by February 2006 to a journal for publication after peer review.

Budget Deficits (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for budget deficits in primary care trusts in Oxfordshire for 2005–06.

Rosie Winterton: The budget deficits in primary care trusts (PCTs) in Oxfordshire are the responsibility of the PCTs which are expected to plan for and achieve financial balance each and every year.

Cancer Treatment

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average waiting times for cancer patients (a) from diagnosis to start of treatment and (b) from urgent general practitioner referral to start of treatment in each of the last 12 quarters.

Rosie Winterton: Average waiting times for the treatment of cancer patients are not collected. Cancer waiting times treatment standards of one month from urgent general practitioner referral to first cancer treatment were introduced for cases of testicular cancer, children's cancers and acute leukaemia in 2001.
	Further standards of maximum waits of 31 days from diagnosis to first cancer treatment and 62 days from urgent referral with suspected cancer to first cancer treatment were introduced for patients with breast cancer in 2001 and 2002 respectively. These 31 and 62 day standards will be in place for all cancer patients from December 2005. Performance against the current cancer waiting times targets are shown in the tables, and are published quarterly on the Department's website. Performance data showing progress towards the 2005 targets was first published for quarter one of 2005–06. Further data will be published on the Department's website at http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/ as it becomes available.
	
		Cancer type: children's cancer
		
			  Quarter Total patients treated Patients treated within one month Percentage of patients treated within one month 
		
		
			 2001–02 4 40 40 100.0 
			 2002–03 1 24 24 100.0 
			 2002–03 2 18 18 100.0 
			 2002–03 3 22 21 95.5 
			 2002–03 4 22 22 100.0 
			 2003–04 1 25 25 100.0 
			 2003–04 2 19 19 100.0 
			 2003–04 3 13 13 100.0 
			 2003–04 4 10 10 100.0 
			 2004–05 1 9 9 100.0 
			 2004–05 2 8 7 87.5 
			 2004–05 3 7 7 100.0 
			 2004–05 4 7 6 85.7 
			 2005–06 1 31 29 93.5 
			  
			 Cancer type: testicular cancer 
			 2001–02 4 189 173 91.5 
			 2002–03 1 167 156 93.4 
			 2002–03 2 191 181 94.8 
			 2002–03 3 164 151 92.1 
			 2002–03 4 177 162 91.5 
			 2003–04 1 163 150 92.0 
			 2003–04 2 178 172 96.6 
			 2003–04 3 200 189 94.5 
			 2003–04 4 175 167 95.4 
			 2004–05 1 129 110 85.3 
			 2004–05 2 144 133 92.4 
			 2004–05 3 145 131 90.3 
			 2004–05 4 170 147 86.5 
			 2005–06 1 588 521 88.6 
			  
			 Cancer type: acute leukaemia 
			 2001–02 4 114 114 100.0 
			 2002–03 1 97 96 99.0 
			 2002–03 2 100 99 99.0 
			 2002–03 3 106 105 99.1 
			 2002–03 4 69 68 98.6 
			 2003–04 1 66 65 98.5 
			 2003–04 2 77 75 97.4 
			 2003–04 3 57 57 100.0 
			 2003–04 4 84 83 98.8 
			 2004–05 1 7 6 85.7 
			 2004–05 2 9 8 88.9 
			 2004–05 3 4 4 100.0 
			 2004–05 4 9 7 77.8 
			 2005–06 1 29 25 86.2 
		
	
	
		Breast cancer—one month from diagnosis to treatment standard
		
			  
		
		
			 2001–02 4 6,315 5,950 94.2 
			 2002–03 1 6,496 6,133 94.4 
			 2002–03 2 7,023 6,642 94.6 
			 2002–03 3 6,941 6,695 96.5 
			 2002–03 4 7,320 7,048 96.3 
			 2003–04 1 7,630 7,395 96.9 
			 2003–04 2 7,808 7,626 97.7 
			 2003–04 3 7,961 7,798 98.0 
			 2003–04 4 7,758 7,507 96.8 
			 2004–05 1 7,492 7,276 97.1 
			 2004–05 2 7,786 7,591 97.5 
			 2004–05 3 7,723 7,596 98.4 
			 2004–05 4 7,818 7,644 97.8 
			 2005–06 1 8,513 8,358 98.2 
		
	
	
		Breast cancer—two months from urgent GP referral to treatment from 2002
		
			  Quarter Total patients treated Patients treated within two months Percentage of patients treated within two months 
		
		
			 2003–04 1 3,763 3,631 96.5 
			 2003–04 2 4,138 4,047 97.8 
			 2003–04 3 4,169 4,053 97.2 
			 2003–04 4 3,810 3,702 97.2 
			 2004–05 1 3,597 3,494 97.1 
			 2004–05 2 3,625 3,503 96.6 
			 2004–05 3 3,673 3,584 97.6 
			 2004–05 4 3,726 3,586 96.2 
			 2005–06 1 4,130 4,028 97.5 
		
	
	
		All cancers—one month from diagnosis to treatment standard from 2005
		
			  Quarter Total patients treated Patients treated within one month Percentage of patients treated within one month 
		
		
			 2005–06 1 42,576 39,430 92.6 
		
	
	
		All cancers—two months from urgent GP referral to treatment standard from 2005
		
			  Quarter Total patients treated Patients treated within two months Percentage of patients treated within two months 
		
		
			 2005–06 1 11,021 14,299 77.1

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2005 Official Report, column 538W, on carbon monoxide poisoning, how many general practitioner surgeries will receive the leaflets; which support groups will be included in the leaflet; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The patient information leaflet, "Indoor air pollution—Carbon monoxide", will be distributed to all general practitioners' surgeries in England—of which there are approximately 93,000—in late November 2005. The leaflet will also be made available on the Department's website with links to pages providing further advice on the prevention and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Heating Equipment Testing and Approval scheme, the Council for Registered Gas Installers and the Solid Fuel Association. The support group, CO-Gas Safety, has been directly involved in the production of this leaflet.
	NHS Direct also provides information on carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in its website at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/he.asp?articleID=417P, which includes information on causes, diagnosis, prevention, symptoms, treatment and complications. Medical advice on CO poisoning is available on the Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) website in his and the Chief Nursing Officer's letter to GPs, which was sent in February 2002. Further advice will be provided to GPs in the CMO's update in November 2005.

Childhood Obesity

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in tackling childhood obesity.

Caroline Flint: Reducing obesity is one of the six overarching priorities of the "Choosing Health" White Paper, published in November 2004. In July 2004, the Government set a Public Service Agreement target 'to halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole'.
	The White Paper delivery plan, "Delivering Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier" together with discrete plans focusing on nutrition, "Choosing a Better Diet: a food and health action plan" and physical activity, "Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan" published in March 2005 set out how the White Paper commitments will be delivered and how they will contribute to delivery of the obesity target.

Contraception and Abortion Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to commission research into economic evaluation strategies for contraception and abortion services.

Caroline Flint: My Department will shortly be issuing guidance to primary care trusts entitled, "Health Economics of Sexual Health: A Guide for Commissioning and Planning". This guidance highlights that there is evidence and consensus that investment in sexual health interventions is good value for money and in many cases, including provision of contraception and early access to abortion services, cost saving. These conclusions are supported by a recent document "The Economics of Sexual Health" published by the Family Planning Association.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2149W, on dentistry, how many additional NHS dental patient registrations she expects the additional resources allocated by her Department in 2004–05 to 2007–08 to produce in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) primary care trust in each year; and how many people had been registered with an NHS dentist each year since 1997 as at 31 March.

Rosie Winterton: The additional resources have been used to support the recruitment of 1,000 dentists by the end of October 2005, measured in whole time dentists recruited, and to support a range of other local improvements in dental services. A range of indicators have been used locally to gauge the impact on access to services.
	No national targets have been set for registrations in 2000–07 or 2007–08. In keeping with "National Standards, Local Action", the dental reforms being introduced in April 2006 devolve responsibility for local commissioning to primary care trusts and it will be for local health communities to agree appropriate performance measures.
	Information on the number of patients registered with a national health service dentist each year since 1997, as at 31 March, has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rates of employee absence in her Department have been in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the figures contained in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent report for the calendar year 2003 was published on 1 November 2004, copies of which are available in the Library. This report and those for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are available on the Cabinet Office website at: www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_ the_civil_service/conditions_of_service/occupational_ health/publications/index.asp.

HIV/AIDS

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in England in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom in 2000–04
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 3,850 
			 2001 5,038 
			 2002 6,188 
			 2003 7,213 
			 2004 7,271 
		
	
	Note:
	This data is from reports received by the end of September 2005. However, the surveillance of HIV diagnoses is subject to a time lag because of the time it tales for a report to be completed at the clinic/laboratory and sent to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). This will mean that the number of HIV diagnoses shown in the table for 2004 will rise. To a lesser extent, those shown for 2003 may also rise.
	Source:
	HPA

Hospital Food

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the average amount spent on hospital food per patient per day; and what assessment she has made of whether there is variation in spending in different regions;
	(2)  what proportion of total patient main meals in hospitals untouched meals represented in each year from 1997–98.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table. Data was not collected before 2001–02.
	
		
			  Average cost of patient main meals per day (£) Average percentage of untouched/ unserved patient meals 
		
		
			 2001–02 2.19 8.86 
			 2002–03 2.41 10.44 
			 2003–04 2.37 10.71 
			 2004–05 2.60 10.26 
		
	
	No central assessment is made of spending on main meals in different regions. However, performance indicators on this and related areas are available to all trusts through the estates return information collection system to support local monitoring and decision making.
	Data on "untouched meals" forms part of a wider question on "untouched/unserved meals". This includes food delivered to the ward and not served, for example, because a patient has gone home, as well as that served but not eaten.

Hospital Treatments

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of NHS-funded (a) orthopaedic and (b) ophthalmic procedures carried out in (i) NHS and (ii) private healthcare establishments in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by type.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Influenza

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2703W, on the influenza pandemic plan, when the updated UK influenza pandemic contingency plan will be published.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The revised UK influenza pandemic contingency plan was published on 19 October 2005. This updates the version published in March 2005. The plan is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
	Copies have been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices offer in-house appointments with a counsellor for those with mental health problems.

Rosie Winterton: Although the Department does not hold this information centrally, a report published by MACA (the Mental Aftercare Association), now known as Together: Working for Wellbeing, "First National GP Survey of Mental Health in Primary Care" (1999) estimated that out of the 1,966 general practitioner practices in England which were surveyed, more than half had attached community psychiatric nurses and counsellors and 10 per cent. had access to a social worker, psychologist and psychiatrist. This report is available online at:
	www.together-uk.org/temp/GPspandspmentalsphealth spreport.pdf.
	By the end of 2004, 648 graduate workers trained in brief pyschological therapy techniques of proven effectiveness were in place in the primary care mental health workforce, able to help GPs manage and treat common mental health problems in all age groups.

MRI Unit (Edgware Hospital)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the proposed MRI unit to be available at Edgware hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I understand that, subject to the necessary planning permission, it is expected that magnetic resonance imaging scans will be available at Edgware hospital by the end of January 2006.

NICE (Drug Approvals)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the shortest time is that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has taken to approve a drug;
	(2)  what the shortest time is that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has taken to approve a cancer drug;
	(3)  what the average period of time taken was to assess a cancer drug's suitability for human use following its referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the last period for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the average period of time taken was to assess a drug's suitability for human use following its referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the last period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not responsible for assessing the suitability of drugs for human use.
	The shortest time taken for NICE to appraise a drug is six months from referral by the Department to the publication of guidance, "Technology Appraisal Guidance no.3 Ovarian Cancer—taxanes". A copy of this guidance is available on the NICE website at:
	www.nice.org.uk

Prescriptions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) paid-for and (b) free prescriptions were issued in each primary care trust in (i) Essex, (ii) Hertfordshire, (iii) inner London and (iv) Greater London in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff directly employed by Barnet primary care trust are (a) managers and (b) involved in direct patient care; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: non-medical staff employed by Barnet primary care trust by each specified staff group as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total NHS staff 1,858 
			 Of which:  
			 Direct patient care staff 1,362 
			   
			 All Doctors(6) 286 
			 All general medical practitioners(7) 250 
			 HCHS Doctors(6) 36 
			   
			 Practice staff(8)(9) 249 
			 Of which:  
			 Practice nurses 68 
			   
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 595 
			 Qualified nurses 415 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 180 
			   
			 Support to clinical staff 232 
			 NHS target group health care assistants 232 
			   
			 Non-Direct Patient Care Staff 496 
			 Support to clinical staff 214 
			 NHS infrastructure support 282 
			 Of which:  
			 Managers and senior managers 100 
			 Central functions 107 
			 Hotel property and estate staff 75 
		
	
	(6) Excludes hospital practitioners and clinical assistants, most of these also work as a general practitioner (GP).
	2 All general medical practitioners include contracted GPs, personal medical services others, GMS others, GP registrars and GP retainers.
	3 Practice staff includes practice nurses, direct patient care staff, administrative and clerical and other.
	4 Headcount figures for practice staff groups, other than practice nurses, can not be shown separately.
	Sources:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Primary Care Trusts

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with primary care trusts in Oxfordshire about hospital bed availability in winter 2005–06;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with (a) the strategic health authority, (b) front line health staff, (c) the voluntary sector and (d) other bodies about hospital winter bed (i) availability and (ii) demand in Oxfordshire in 2005–06.

Rosie Winterton: The Department manages delivery including issues such as winter through the strategic health authorities (SHAs), as the local headquarters of the national health service. It is the role of SHAs to ensure appropriate winter plans are in place locally and it is for them to decide how they engage their stakeholder community.

School Fruit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 1675W, on school fruit, if she will break down the percentage of fruits sourced from (a) the UK and (b) overseas, by season.

Caroline Flint: Table one shows a breakdown of the produce supplied by the school fruit and vegetable scheme during the school year 2004–5 by school term and source region.
	
		1: United Kingdom grown and imported produce supplied by school fruit and vegetable scheme Percentages
		
			 Term UK grown Imported 
		
		
			 Autumn term 30 70 
			 Spring term 29 71 
			 Summer term 10 90 
		
	
	For individual products which are available from UK growers, the breakdown over the whole school year is shown in table 2—this obviously includes those months of the year when UK grown apples and pears are not available.
	
		2: Breakdown by type of produce supplied by school fruit and vegetable scheme Percentages
		
			 Produce UK Imported 
		
		
			 Apples 46 54 
			 Pears 16 84 
			 Carrots 100 0 
			 Strawberries 100 0 
		
	
	We will also be introducing cocktail tomatoes and baby cucumbers into the scheme. We have been working with the National Farmers Union to encourage UK production of these products for the school fruit and vegetable scheme.

See Me Campaign (Scotland)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the "see me" campaign in Scotland.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of the "see me" campaign in Scotland. I understand from the director of the national programme for improving mental health and wellbeing at the Scottish Executive that an evaluation will be commissioned within the 2005–06 financial year to track the development of the campaign in terms of inputs and actions, programme reach, results and short term outcomes, at national and local levels. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed before March 2007. The Department will carefully consider the report of this evaluation to inform the further development of shift, the five-year initiative (2004–09) in England to tackle stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues.

Smoking

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of premature deaths caused by smoking in the past 12 months in the Southend, West constituency; and what action she is taking to reduce the number of such premature deaths.

Caroline Flint: The information requested regarding the estimated number of premature deaths caused by smoking in the past 12 months in the Southend, West constituency is not held centrally.
	Since 1998, the Government have put in place a comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking to reduce the deaths caused by smoking. The strategy focuses on action to discourage people from ever starting, and help for all smokers. We are aiming to create a climate where non-smoking is the norm.
	We have banned almost all tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. Our highly effective national anti-smoking education campaign is reaching smokers and helping motivate them to quit. People who wish to give up smoking can get help from the national health service stop smoking services. We set out proposals to bring in new measures to improve the way the NHS helps smokers to give up in our White Paper, "Choosing Health". We will reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and, through a staged approach, make almost all enclosed public places and workplaces smoke-free. We will consult on introducing picture warnings onto tobacco packs. Together, these strategies have helped reduce adult smoking rates in England from 28 per cent. in 1998 to 25 per cent. in 2004.

St. George's Hospital, Tooting

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much NHS funding will be made available to St. George's hospital in Tooting in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07;

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS funding has been made available to St. George's hospital in Tooting in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Information about funding for acute trusts is not held centrally. National health service financial allocations are made directly to primary care trusts who have responsibility for commissioning NHS services for the treatment and care of their local population from local acute trusts.
	This is where the specific local knowledge and expertise lies and it is not appropriate for the Department to intervene.

Surgeons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgeons have (a) left and (b) started working in the NHS in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) inner London and (iv) Greater London in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The estimate of joiners and leavers in the surgical specialties for the period 1993–2004, within Essex, London and Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): estimate of joiners and leavers in the surgical specialties(7); 1993–2004—England, as at 30 September Number of leavers (headcount)
		
			  1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 All London strategic health authorities (SHAs)
			 All surgeons 156 135 164 170 131 184 189 147 172 169 142 
			 of which:
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 60 74 76 63 54 90 67 76 76 63 61 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 96 61 88 107 77 94 122 71 96 106 81 
			 
			 Essex SHA
			 All surgeons 17 10 21 15 22 19 22 20 22 27 11 
			 of which:
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 3 1 8 4 5 1 3 9 6 9 3 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 14 9 13 11 17 18 19 11 16 18 8 
			 
			 Southend Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 All surgeons 4 3 7 5 6 5 4 6 2 5 3 
			 of which:
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 5 0 1 0 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 3 3 5 5 3 5 4 1 2 4 3 
		
	
	
		Number of joiners (headcount)
		
			  1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 All London SHAs   
			 All surgeons 274 214 243 170 171 230 194 217 191 228 221 
			 of which
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 215 128 118 81 92 126 104 113 98 135 138 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 59 86 125 89 79 104 90 104 93 93 83 
			 
			 Essex SHA
			 All surgeons 17 44 22 28 24 30 21 21 35 26 35 
			 of which:
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 6 30 8 11 9 12 7 6 21 13 23 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 11 14 14 17 15 18 14 15 14 13 12 
			 
			 Southend Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 All surgeons 4 8 6 6 6 9 4 5 3 6 9 
			 of which:
			 Surgical specialty group (medical specialties) 2 5 1 1 2 5 4 1 1 2 3 
			 Oral and Maxillo facial surgery specialists 2 3 5 5 4 4 0 4 2 4 6 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census.

Tryptophan

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  why the proposed limit of 220 milligrames of tryptophan per supplement capsule has been set on the basis of dividing the average therapeutic dose by 10; and what steps she is taking to satisfy herself that this approach (a) is based upon scientific data on safety, (b) is proportionate in its impact on industry, (c) does not reasonably deny consumer choice and (d) is consistent with the principles of good regulation established by the Better Regulation Task Force;
	(2)  what information she has collated on the levels of tryptophan that are allowed in food products in other European countries; what information the Food Standards Agency received from (a) the Health Food Manufacturers Association and (b) other industry bodies about the safety of tryptophan in response to its consultation exercise on that subject; and why the agency decided not to accept the recommendations of those industry bodies about safe levels of tryptophan;
	(3)  whether the criteria for establishing a safe upper limit for essential nutrients established in the Report of her Ad Hoc Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals have been followed in the setting of maximum permitted levels for tryptophan; what assessment she made of the merits of using advisory statements on tryptophan similar to those developed with industry when setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Scientific data supporting the safety of tryptophan was assessed by the committee on toxicity (COT) in 2004. In its evaluation, the COT noted significant uncertainties and decided that an uncertainty factor of 10 should be applied to derive a dose that would not be expected to be a risk to health to the general population. The limit proposed by the COT was 220 milligrammes of tryptophan per supplement capsule. This factor is applied where there is uncertainty due to gaps in the scientific evidence.
	A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was carried out to determine the impact on industry and consumers, which was followed by a 12 week consultation period with stakeholders on the proposed regulations and the draft RIA. Tryptophan supplements were banned in the United Kingdom in 1990 and the new legislation will allow the reintroduction of the sale of L-tryptophan at a specified level and purity criteria. The impact on industry was considered and on balance was considered to be positive, given that supplements containing tryptophan have been prohibited for sale since 1990. Consumer choice will also be increased without presenting an appreciable risk to health. This approach is consistent with the principle of good regulation established by the better regulation task force.
	It is understood that three European countries have reintroduced the sale of tryptophan supplements at daily dose levels of between 160mg and 600mg.
	Responses were received by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) from the Health Food Manufacturers Association and the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), on the approach taken by the COT on setting levels for the use of tryptophan in supplements and suggesting higher levels be permitted.
	The COT secretariat has reviewed the data submitted by ION in May 2005 and found that there was no new evidence to that already reviewed by COT in 2004, when it reached its conclusions on the safety of tryptophan that would support a higher level of tryptophan being used in food supplements. The FSA therefore adopted the level and purity criteria proposed by COT, and this has therefore been adopted into UK legislation to reintroduce the sale of tryptophan supplements in the UK, in the interests of consumer choice and safety. We have asked COT to review its recommendation and any new information on tryptophan since June 2004, and this will be considered at the COT meeting in December. Depending on COTs advice the legislation may be amended.
	The expert group on vitamins and minerals (EVM) proposed safe upper levels (SULs) for vitamins and minerals using the well-established paradigm for setting acceptable and tolerable intake levels for chemicals in food. Where the data were not adequate to set a SUL, the EVM gave guidance on levels that would not be expected to result in adverse effects. The COT uses the same paradigm in its consideration of the safety of tryptophan as a supplement. However, the scientific data did not support derivation of a SUL, and the COT conclusion is expressed in the same terms that EVM used for its guidance levels.
	The use of advisory statements was not considered appropriate due to the severity of the symptoms of Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome in people taking dietary supplements containing tryptophan pre-1990, and the uncertainty relating to gaps in the scientific evidence. COT decided to recommend a daily dose level of 220mg that would not present an appreciable risk to health.

Secure Training Centres

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been appointed to each of the secure training centres in each year since they opened; and how many have left in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of staff appointed to secure training centres each year and the number leaving are shown in the table.
	
		Medway Secure Training Centre—opened 17 April 1998
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1 January 2005 to 31 August 2005 
		
		
			 Starters 
			 Custody staff (7)— 66 40 39 130 135 88 36 
			 Other (7)— 30 17 12 10 8 3 1 
			 Total  96 57 51 140 143 91 37 
			  
			 Leavers 
			 Custody staff 29 33 36 42 61 95 66 21 
			 Other 2 1 4 7 5 6 3 1 
			 Total 31 34 40 49 66 101 69 22 
			  
			 Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre—opened 3 July 1999 
			 Starters 
			 Custody staff — (7)— (7)— (7)— 109 60 52 37 
			 Other — (7)— (7)— (7)— 12 6 5 0 
			 Total —121 66 57 37 
			  
			 Leavers 
			 Custody staff — (7)— (7)— (7)— 31 48 52 27 
			 Other — (7)— (7)— (7)— 7 4 5 3 
			 Total — — — — 38 52 57 30 
			 Hassockfield Secure Training Centre—opened 17 September 1999 
			 Starters 
			 Custody staff — (8)16 22 31 65 25 32 13 
			 Other — (8)11 23 19 7 8 14 11 
			 Total — (8)27 45 50 72 33 46 24 
			  
			 Leavers 
			 Custody staff — (8)10 33 23 26 25 23 9 
			 Other — (8)10 37 17 15 14 18 7 
			 Total — (8)20 70 40 41 39 41 16 
			  
			 Oakhill Secure Training Centre—opened 19 August 2004 
			 Starters 
			 Custody staff — — — — — — 234 106 
			 Other — — — — — — 32 12 
			 Total — — — — — — 266 118 
			  
			 Leavers 
			 Custody staff — — — — — — 77 77 
			 Other — — — — — — 5 11 
			 Total — — — — — — 82 88 
		
	
	(7) Data not available
	2 19 September 1999 to 31 December 1999
	Notes:
	1. At Medway, Rainsbrook and Oakhill, "other staff" excludes teachers and healthcare staff, none of whom are directly employed by the STC contractors.
	2. Hassockfield's "other staff" includes teachers and healthcare staff, as they are directly employed by the STC contractors.
	3. The high number of joiners at Rainsbrook and Medway in 2002 and 2003 reflect the expansion of both centres from 44 to 76 beds. (Hassockfield has 42 beds, Oakhill has 80.)
	4. Joiner/leaver numbers at all centres include staff who were provisionally appointed but did not actually start work with children because they did not pass the initial training course or did not receive Criminal Records Bureau clearance. These staff did not have contact with children.
	5. Rainsbrook introduced a fully automated personnel/payroll system in 2002. Data prior to this period is limited and accuracy cannot be guaranteed, so has not been included.
	6. Staff figures for Hassockfield in 1999 are for appointments after 19 September, when the centre opened. Some staff were appointed prior to opening, but figures for these are not available.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide released by private motor vehicles in (a) 1984, (b) 1994 and (c) 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table shows carbon dioxide emissions from the private use of household vehicles:
	
		
			  Million tonnes of carbon dioxide 
		
		
			 1990 58.7 
			 1991 58.3 
			 1992 59.0 
			 1993 59.2 
			 1994 57.9 
			 1995 56.9 
			 1996 60.0 
			 1997 61.0 
			 1998 60.5 
			 1999 62.0 
			 2000 61.3 
			 2001 62.0 
			 2002 64.1 
			 2003 63.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Environmental Accounts, Office for National Statistics
	Data prior to 1990 are not available on this basis, and 2004 data is not yet available. The figures are on the private use of vehicles and so exclude use of vehicles by businesses.

Funding Allocations

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards basing transport funding allocations on economic development outcomes.

Karen Buck: The potential impact on economic development is a vital part of our appraisal of all proposed transport investment, and is considered carefully in all decisions on the allocation of funds. The Department for Transport assesses new transport infrastructure proposals using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) guidance. This guidance is published on the web and can be found at www.webTAG.org.uk
	NATA assesses the impacts of new transport infrastructure proposals in terms of the Government's five transport objectives, one of which is to support sustainable economic activity.
	"The Future of Transport" White Paper (July 2004) set out the Government's intention to establish a Transport Innovation Fund.
	One of the fund's objectives will be to provide funding to supplement the resources available regionally and locally in support of schemes which make a major contribution to national productivity.
	In addition the Eddington Study has been asked to advise on the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth.

Disability Living Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1198W, on disability living allowance, what proportion of people awarded disability living allowance on the basis of behavioural disorder including enuresis and hyperactivity were children.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 27 October 2005
	The requested information is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance: number of first awards in Great Britain made (a) to people whose main disabling condition is recorded as "behavioural disorder-including enuresis and hyperactivity"; and (b) the number and proportion of those awards which were made to children under 16 years of age at the time of the award in each of the last five years ending 31 May 2005(9)
		
			 12 months ending 31 May Total number of first awards to DLA(10) First awards of DLA to children under 16 First awards to children under 16 as a percentage of the total number of awards 
		
		
			 2001 12,500 11,500 93 
			 2002 13,600 12,700 93 
			 2003 13,900 12,700 91 
			 2004 15,700 14,300 91 
			 2005 14,200 13,000 95 
		
	
	(9) Figures are given for 12 month periods ending on 31 May of each year because they are the latest available; those for the 12 months ending on 31 May 2005 were published on 27 October 2005. The figures given in the written answer of 20 October mentioned in the question were for 12 month periods ending on 28 February of each year because, at that date, the latest available figures were those for the 12 months ending on 28 February 2005.
	(10) Figures for awards are to people whose main disabling condition is recorded as "behavioural disorder-including enuresis and hyperactivity".
	Notes:
	1. First awards are those made on initial claims, reviews or appeals to people not previously in receipt of benefit. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. In cases where more than one disability is present, only the main disabling condition is recorded.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for total number of awards and 5 per cent. samples for the proportion made to children under 16.

Incapacity Benefit

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have claimed incapacity benefit in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table.
	
		Number of incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham; at date shown
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 February 1997 8,000 
			 February 1998 8,700 
			 February 1999 8,200 
			 February 2000 8,400 
			 February 2001 8,600 
			 February 2002 8,600 
			 February 2003 8,400 
			 February 2004 9,000 
			 February 2005 8,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. "Claimants" include all incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance and national insurance credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

Incapacity Benefit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been claimed as incapacity benefit in Scotland since 2001.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit expenditure in Scotland (nominal terms)
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 848 
			 2001–02 838 
			 2002–03 831 
			 2003–04 809 
			 2004–05 814 
		
	
	
		Incapacity benefit expenditure in Scotland(real terms 2005–06 prices)
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 966 
			 2001–02 931 
			 2002–03 893 
			 2003–04 846 
			 2004–05 834 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on data underlying the Country and Regional Analysis 2005.
	2. Figures for 2004–05 are estimated using 2003–04 case load and average amounts.

New Deal

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Gravesham have gained employment through the New Deal programme.

Margaret Hodge: Up to the end of March 2005, 1,870 people had been placed into work through the New Deal programme in Gravesham.
	Notes:
	1. Information on the numbers of people placed into work through new deal for disabled people and new deal for partners is not available at constituency level. 2. Latest available data is to the end of March 2005. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

Pathways to Work

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people on incapacity benefit have participated on the Pathways to Work pilots (a) in total and (b) each month; what the average duration of participation is; and how many in total have entered paid employment of 16 hours or more a week.

Margaret Hodge: The average time spent on pathways is just over 17 weeks.
	By the end of June, there were 115,400 new claimants in Pathways to Work areas. New claimants are expected to attend work focused interviews but their participation in work focused activities is voluntary. 21 per cent. choose to do so and of these, 14,600 have obtained a job. Information is not available as to how many of these have entered paid employment of 16 hours or more a week.
	Information on how many people on incapacity benefit have participated in the Pathways to Work pilots is in the following table.
	
		Number of people on incapacity benefit participating in the pathways to work pilots
		
			 Month/year Monthly initial contacts 
		
		
			 2003:  
			 October 1,229 
			 November 2,736 
			 December 2,384 
			   
			 2004:  
			 January 3,350 
			 February 3,217 
			 March 3,746 
			 April 6,371 
			 May 6,438 
			 June 7,432 
			 July 7,075 
			 August 6,895 
			 September 7,133 
			 October 6,652 
			 November 6,789 
			 December 4,882 
			   
			 2005:  
			 January 6,276 
			 February 6,527 
			 March 6,925 
			 April 6,533 
			 May 6,321 
			 June 6,435 
			 Total 115,366 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data is to the end of June 2005.
	2. Includes customers making a new claim to incapacity benefit for whom pilot participation is mandatory and existing customers who have volunteered to take part.
	Source:
	Pathways to Work Evaluation Database.

Pathways to Work

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have left incapacity benefit since October 2003 in (a) the UK and (b) pathways to work pilot areas to (i) enter paid work, (ii) claim jobseeker's allowance, (iii) claim retirement pension and (iv) to claim another benefit.

Margaret Hodge: Information is not available for the UK.
	By June 2005 there were 115,400 new claimants in pathways to work areas. New claimants are expected to attend work focused interviews but their participation in work focused activities is voluntary. Twenty one percent. choose to do so and of these, 14,600 have obtained a job. Information is not available on whether these jobs are part-time or full-time. A measure of sustainability is not currently available for jobs obtained through the pathways pilots, but we expect to provide robust information as part of our comprehensive evaluation.
	The available information for Great Britain and the pathways to work pilot areas is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) severe disability allowance (SDA) terminations from 1 October 2003 to 20 November 2004 by destination
		
			  Great Britain Pathways areas 
		
		
			 All IB/SDA terminations 844.2 81.8 
			 Various destinations (including work) 575.8 55.8 
			 State pension (SP) 162.2 15.2 
			 Other benefits 12.7 1.0 
			 Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) 93.6 9.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. 'Destination' is the benefit claimed within 90 days of an IB/SDA claim terminating, or for SP, those approaching pension age at their claim end date.
	3. 'Other benefits' includes income support and pension credit. Claimants who are already receiving income support (IS)/pension credit (PC) in conjunction with their IB/SDA claim have not been included in this category.
	4. The destination recorded has been allocated on a hierarchical basis, in the following order; JSA, SP, 'other benefits', 'other destination.' For example: If the claimant received JSA and also claimed IS within 90 days, they would be recorded in the JSA category of the table.
	5. 'Other destination' includes anyone who does not subsequently claim JSA, SP, IS or PC. This will include people who move into work, return to IB/SDA subsequently, die, or leave IB/SDA for any other reason.
	6. 'Pathways Areas' are Bridgend, Renfrewshire, Derbyshire, Gateshead and South Tyneside, Somerset, Essex, and East Lancashire.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 percent samples.

Pensioners (Benefits/Assistance)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Kettering constituency received (a) the Christmas bonus, (b) the over 80s age top up and (c) winter fuel payments in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The available information on the Christmas Bonus is in the table and is based on the estimates of state pension recipients.
	
		
			  Estimated numbers of Christmas bonus payable in the Kettering constituency 
		
		
			 September 1999 18,000 
			 September 2000 18,100 
			 September 2001 18,500 
			 November 2002 18,100 
			 November 2003 18,500 
			 November 2004 18,800 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3. The figures for September 1999 to March 2002 are based on data from the five per cent. samples.
	4. The figures for May 2002 to May 2005 are directly from the WPLS 100 per cent. data.
	5. Data sources are not available prior to September 1999.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data and five per cent. samples.
	We do not collect information on the over 80s age top up of 25p a week by constituency, however, they are comparable with the figures shown for the 80+ annual payment in the table.
	Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not available. The information for Kettering constituency from winter 1999–2000 is in the following table including details of the 80+ annual payment introduced in winter 2003–04 and now included as part of the winter fuel payment to those aged 80 or over. These figures are also available in the Library.
	
		
			  Winter fuel payments made in the Kettering constituency 80+ annual payments made in the Kettering constituency 
		
		
			 1999–2000 17,360 n/a 
			 2000–01 19,395 n/a 
			 2001–02 19,745 n/a 
			 2002–03 19,965 n/a 
			 2003–04 20,425 4,335 
			 2004–05 20,510 4,210 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data is taken at the specified dates
	2. Totals may not sum due to rounding
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five
	4. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. sample

Pensioners (Benefits/Assistance)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many pensioners failed to apply for each of the benefits administered by his Department to which they are entitled in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to, but not receiving the main income-related benefit administered by the DWP, as well as local authority administered housing benefit and council tax benefit, can be found in the DWP publication series entitled: "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". Copies of the annual reports are held in the Library. The latest edition presents patterns in the take-up of each benefit, for pensioners, between 1997–98 and 2002–03.
	Information on other DWP administered benefits is not available.

Savings Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the revenue yield for each of the next 20 years from ending all new claims for savings credit beyond January 2006, while continuing with existing claims; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Revenue yield for ending new claims for savings credit beyond January 2006
		
			  £ Billion 
		
		
			 2006 0.1 
			 2007 0.2 
			 2008 0.4 
			 2009 0.6 
			 2010 0.8 
			 2011 1.1 
			 2012 1.5 
			 2013 1.9 
			 2014 2.2 
			 2015 2.6 
			 2016 3.0 
			 2017 3.3 
			 2018 3.7 
			 2019 4.1 
			 2020 4.4 
			 2021 5.3 
			 2022 6.1 
			 2023 6.9 
			 2024 7.7 
			 2025 8.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in £ billions, in nominal terms, and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. Annual off-flows by five year age band, marital status and pension credit components in receipt are assumed to remain constant.
	3. Discontinuation of new savings credit entitlements is assumed not to impact on guarantee credit expenditure.
	4. For the purposes of expenditure, the average amount of savings credit in receipt is assumed not to vary by age of recipient.
	5. Figures are for calendar years.

Stolen Antiquities

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to help trace antiquities that were stolen from the Iraq National Museum; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Under the Iraq (United Nations) Sanctions Order 2003 any piece of cultural property illegally removed from Iraq after 6 August 1990 should be handed over to the police. Dealing in such material, which includes that which was stolen from the Iraq National Museum, is illegal.
	My Department is undertaking a number of projects designed to combat the illicit trade in stolen cultural goods. We recently published guidelines to museums, libraries and archives on the acquisition of such items, to help them ensure that their acquisitions are both legal and ethical. We are also funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to produce a website offering advice to anyone wishing to purchase art and antiquities, to help them avoid purchasing illegally traded cultural property.

Pathfinder Renewal Project

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the administrative costs of each Pathfinder Renewal project were in each year of its operation; and how much is planned for 2005–06.

Yvette Cooper: The grant claims in respect of staffing, administration and programme development costs for each pathfinder are set out in the table. The figures for 2005–06 show claims between April and September.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Pathfinder 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Birmingham Sandwell 1.069 0.293 
			 Oldham Rochdale 1.142 1.729 
			 Manchester Salford 4.574 1.551 
			 Merseyside 4.541 3.863 
			 North Staffordshire 1.074 0.957 
			 East Lancashire 3.162 3.302 
			 Hull and East Riding 2.586 0.668 
			 South Yorkshire 2.762 2.829 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 1.481 0.730

Regeneration (Tooting)

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department on regeneration projects in the constituency of Tooting in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This fund was first allocated in 2001–02 to local authorities in areas of severe deprivation as measured by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2000. Allocations within local authority areas of this funding is the responsibility of the Local Strategic Partnership, based on their knowledge and information of local need. We do not collect information on how Local Strategic Partnerships allocate Neighbourhood Renewal Funding to constituencies and are therefore unable to provide details of how much has been allocated specifically to Tooting. We would anticipate the information being available from Wandsworth Local Strategic Partnership and it is suggested that it is approached to provide such information. Information on allocations of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding at borough level is collected and has been provided in Table A.
	Three other funding streams have contributed to neighbourhood renewal in Wandsworth—Community Chest, Community Learning Chest and the Community Empowerment Fund have all provided funding for community sector involvement in neighbourhood renewal. In April 2005, these funding streams were merged into one "Single Community Programme". Information on allocations of the Single Community Programme at borough level has been provided in Table A.
	
		Table A: Funding allocations to London Borough of Wandsworth £
		
			  Neighbourhood Renewal Funding Single Community Programme Funding (comprising Community Chest, Community Learning Chest and Community Empowerment Fund) Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 200,000 100,000 300,000 
			 2002–03 300,000 95,000 395,000 
			 2003–04 400,000 377,337 777,337 
			 2004–05 400,000 232,663 632,663 
			 2005–06 400,000 (11)114,748 514,748 
			 Total 1,700,000 919,758 2,619,748 
		
	
	(11) To date.
	The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), which began in 1994, brought together a number of programmes from several Government Departments with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the assistance available for regeneration. SRB provides resources to support regeneration initiatives carried out by local regeneration partnerships.
	The London Development Agency (LDA) is responsible for this budget and the Young People Agent for Change SRB project in Wandsworth has received—and continues to receive—funding which is outlined in Table B. Again, we do not hold information on how much of this funding has been spent in Tooting.
	
		Table B: Young Peoples Agent for Change Funding Profile—Wandsworth SRB Project (actual and forecast spend)
		
			  SRB capital SRB revenue Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 2.43 25.56 27.99 
			 2001–02 131.24 236.11 367.35 
			 2002–03 527.00 565.17 1,092.17 
			 2003–04 476.27 944.04 1,420.31 
			 2004–05 141.50 857.51 999.01 
			 2005–06 10.00 788.72 798.72 
			 2006–07 159.60 574.95 734.55 
			 Total 1,448.04 3,992.06 5,440.10

Darfur

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Darfur; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the activities of militia groups on that situation.

Hilary Benn: The humanitarian situation in Darfur remains serious. 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes and 3.4 million are dependent on humanitarian assistance. Although the latest UN mortality survey shows that the number of deaths has decreased significantly, the security situation has deteriorated in recent months with an increase in banditry hampering humanitarian relief operations, particularly in West Darfur. Road access for humanitarian agencies in West Darfur has been cut and the UN has positioned air transport in El Geneina to meet priority humanitarian needs and is confident that essential operations can be maintained. In central Darfur, the upsurge in fighting has seen new waves of localised displacement. Contingency planning for more disruption is underway by the humanitarian agencies and we stand ready to provide additional support if required.
	The UN Secretary General's September 2005 report on Darfur states that all parties (SLA, Government, Arab militia) except the JEM initiated violent incidents. The African Union Mission in Sudan is investigating these incidents, and we are encouraging them to carry out a verification mission to identify the locations of all parties to the conflict, including militia groups.

Developing Countries

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Department decides how much money to allocate to each developing country; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID operates an annual review of budgets that includes deciding how much money to allocate to each developing country. The process involves dialogue at all levels starting with country offices and culminating in approval by DFID's management board and, then, by Ministers.
	DFID uses a financial model to generate suggested allocations for bilateral country programmes. The model takes account of both the extent of a country's poverty and the likely effectiveness of aid in reducing its poverty. Vulnerability to economic shocks and the amount of aid which countries are likely to receive from other donors are also considered in deciding on the appropriate level of aid.
	In addition to the model's results, the regional divisions responsible for DFID's bilateral country programmes analyse a range of factors when considering allocations. These include the effectiveness of multilateral channels, conflict and reconstruction needs, inequality and social exclusion, our historical engagement and the political environment.
	The issue of effective allocation of aid is a broad one, which requires greater co-ordination between all aid donors, since the UK itself provides less than 10 percent. of global aid. We believe faster progress could be made towards the millennium development goals (MDGs) if the world's aid was more systematically allocated to countries most in need of, and best able to use it for poverty reduction. DFID has been urging other donors to focus more of their aid on poor countries and poor people, while recognising that security and conflict prevention have a key role to play. In this regard, DFID is leading initiatives in the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)'s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) to promote information sharing on different donors approaches to allocation and to create a DAC watch brief on aid flows to a list of fragile states.

Low-income Countries

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department (a) is providing and (b) intends to provide for the implementation of anti-corruption measures in (i) countries which have qualified for debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries programme and (ii) other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID anti corruption strategies make no distinction between heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) and other countries. The approach must be tailored to the specific circumstances prevalent in each individual country.
	Countries qualify for HIPC debt relief where they can demonstrate their commitment to poverty reduction and to sound macro economic management. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also assess public financial management and agree actions that countries will take to improve these systems. Where DFID gives direct budgetary support as part of our bilateral programmes in HIPC and non-HIPC countries, we undertake a comprehensive fiduciary risk assessment based on a thorough evaluation of partner Government public financial management systems, which include a specific evaluation of corruption. Where weaknesses are identified, appropriate anti corruption interventions are designed accordingly.
	Corruption is both a symptom and a cause of poor governance. Therefore, DFID bilateral programmes typically include support to a range of governance reforms. Support has been given to improve judicial systems, for example in Kenya, Nigeria Uganda and Sierra Leone. DFID has also provided technical and financial support to dedicated anti-corruption commissions in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. DFID also supports a number of regional anti-corruption related initiatives spanning many of the HIPC countries, such as the regional anti-money laundering groups representing eastern and southern Africa (ESAAMLG) and western Africa (GIABBA).

TB Control

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total UK Government expenditure on TB control in developing countries was between 2001 and 2004; what the proposed expenditure is for (a) 2005 and (b) 2006; how much of the total was (i) multilateral and (ii) bilateral aid; and how the bilateral aid was divided between (A) project support, (B) health sector support and (C) direct budget support.

Gareth Thomas: DFID funds TB control through some specific bilateral projects, but increasingly also funds the broader health sector plans of developing country governments by direct financing through their budgets, or through multilateral organisations such as the World Bank. Such sector programmes will build capacity in health services to diagnose and treat all major causes of illness. It is therefore difficult to attribute accurately all of DFID's expenditure on TB control. The following are estimated figures for funding to TB control through bilateral and multilateral channels.
	DFID's bilateral expenditure directly targeting TB control was £13 million in 2003–04, and £15 million in 2004–05. These figures may underestimate DFID's TB bilateral expenditure since they only include the parts of projects which were specifically focused on TB control. They do not count the full costs of these projects which often provide funding to services which support TB control, but are not TB-specific. To count the full cost of these projects may be misleading as other diseases and sectoral areas are targeted within them. Expenditure estimates are not available prior to 2003 as information was not collected in a suitable format.
	DFID provides grants to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) 1 and the World Health Organisation (WHO). We estimate that the amount of DFID funding that went to TB control through these two organisations was £4 million in 2003–04 and £5 million in 2004–05. These figures are based on the share of spend which these organisations said they directed towards TB control (GFATM—13 per cent., the WHO—4 per cent.).
	These figures do not include DFID's expenditure on TB through grants to other multilateral organisations including the World Bank and the European Commission. These organisations will target some of their work towards TB but do not currently report it explicitly in their budgets. Therefore, we are unable to provide an estimate of DFID's TB expenditure via these organisations.
	DFID provides a significant part of its funding directly to government budgets in support of their overall strategies for poverty reduction ('Poverty Reduction Budget Support'). DFID provided £339 million in 2003–04 and £423 million in 2004–05 in this way. Partner governments may use some part of this directly for TB control activities. It is not currently possible to provide accurate estimates of the proportion of PRBS which is spent directly on TB control.
	DFID does not have a target for expenditure on TB control. However, we are committed to at least maintaining our level of effort in order to halt and reverse the incidence of TB. We will continue to channel support through bilateral projects, contributions to multilateral organisations and funding to partner governments through PRBS. DFID has pledged £5 million to the global Stop TB Partnership for 2005 to 2007, to co-ordinate technical support and supplies of quality drugs to TB programmes in developing countries, and £200 million to the 'Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria' for the two year period 2006 to 2007.
	1 DFID contributions to the GFATM are made on a calendar year basis therefore the financial year figures above do not reflect the doubling of UK contributions from 2004 to 2005.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department.

Jack Straw: Employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are required on entry to demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy. The training offered focuses on developing these skills to a more advanced level in the context of the FCO's business, for example writing courses and financial management training, which are available to all employees. These courses will be revised in 2006 to build on the Professional Skills in Government Agenda. Occasionally members of staff bid for and receive funding to attend courses, for example at evening classes, to improve their literacy and numeracy.

Gershon Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who in the Department has been made responsible for achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review.

Jack Straw: Responsibility for achieving the efficiency objectives set for the department as a whole by the Gershon review lies with the Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Michael Jay. Within this, individual efficiency projects including those of the British Council and BBC World Service, each have their own project manager and senior responsible owner.

Adoption

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support services are available for adopted children and their new families, with particular reference to children with psychological and behavioural difficulties.

Shaun Woodward: Under the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, health and social services boards and trusts have a statutory duty to ensure that an adoption service is in place to meet the needs, in relation to adoption, of children who have been adopted, parents and guardians of such children, and persons who have adopted or may adopt a child.
	As part of this service, adoption agencies may pay adoption allowances where certain criteria are met, which include circumstances where children suffer from psychological and behavioural difficulties.
	The Department's Adopting Best Care Report also recommended that boards and trusts make provision for "fast-track" access to child and adult psychiatry and psychology services for looked after children, adopted children and their families.

Assaults

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been convicted of assaulting their partner in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Statistics relating to convictions for persons who have assaulted their partner are presently not available. I anticipate however that this information will become available towards the end of next year with the further development of the new Causeway information system.

Benefit Payments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance benefits, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) income support and (d) housing benefits, broken down by (i) district housing executive area and (ii) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: It is not a condition of tenancy for housing executive tenants to disclose their source of income, therefore the information requested is only available for 78 percent. of tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit.
	A breakdown of benefits, as requested, received by these 78 percent. of tenants, is detailed in the following list by housing executive district area.
	Information is not held on a parliamentary constituency basis.
	Housing benefit is available to help people on low incomes to pay their rent. Income can be from wages or benefits or a combination of both. Of the remaining 22 per cent. of housing executive tenants, there will be those in receipt of benefits but this information is not available to the Northern Ireland housing executive.
	
		Number
		
			 Nine District (a)Tenants in receipt of DLA/AA(13) (b)Tenants in receipt of incapacity benefit (c)Tenants in receipt of IS/JSA(IB) PC(G)(14) (d) Tenants in receipt of housing benefit 
		
		
			 Belfast 1 1,040 114 1,712 1,903 
			 Belfast 2 1,400 243 2,272 2,809 
			 Belfast 3 1,768 168 2,800 3,040 
			 Belfast 4 1,532 299 2,558 3,128 
			 Belfast 5 1,272 209 2,258 2,728 
			 Belfast 6 1,403 193 2,485 3,031 
			 Belfast 7 1,243 183 2,245 2,623 
			 Bangor 815 141 1,473 1,941 
			 Newtownards 1,206 224 2,221 2,940 
			 Castlereagh 1,091 220 1,840 2,475 
			 Lisburn 1,456 258 2,327 3,019 
			 Poleglass 743 64 1,658 1,800 
			 Downpatrick 997 125 1,635 1,974 
			 Banbridge 720 117 1,116 1,438 
			 Newry 1,395 133 2,400 2,747 
			 Armagh 732 122 1,237 1,521 
			 Lurgan 1,129 142 1,793 2,189 
			 Portadown 574 115 990 1,243 
			 Dungannon 841 147 1,354 1,594 
			 Fermanagh 902 87 1,654 1,875 
			 Ballymena 681 169 1,689 2,186 
			 Antrim 786 166 1,478 1,915 
			 Newtownabbey 1 684 119 1,352 1,701 
			 Newtownabbey 2 644 105 1,295 1,695 
			 Carrickfergus 503 124 1,139 1,492 
			 Larne 384 68 866 1,130 
			 Ballycastle 249 42 605 733 
			 Ballymoney 514 98 1,000 1,237 
			 Coleraine 746 154 2,028 2,523 
			 Derry 1 1,024 138 1,948 2,151 
			 Derry 2 921 161 1,708 2,057 
			 Derry 3 987 104 2,132 2,316 
			 Limavady 578 71 1,123 1,267 
			 Magherafelt 453 87 863 1,106 
			 Strabane 1,013 101 1,859 2,084 
			 Omagh 830 82 1,429 1,593 
			 Cookstown 465 70 779 916 
			 Total 33,721 5,163 61,321 74,120 
		
	
	(13) DLA refers to disability allowance (care and mobility). AA refers attendance allowance.
	(14) IS refers to income support JSA(IB) refers jobseeker's allowance income based PC(G) refers pension credit guarantee credit. These three benefits refer to the three categories of IS claims.
	Note:
	1. Claimants in receipt of IS/JSA(IB)/PC(G) may also be in receipt of AA or DLA, therefore there is an overlap with these figures.
	2. Claimants in receipt of incapacity may also be in receipt of DLA.

Cardiology

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care there are in Northern Ireland hospitals.

Shaun Woodward: The information required is provided in the table.
	
		Number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care in NI Hospitals as at October 2005
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin hospital 12 12.00 47 39.62 
			 Belfast city hospital 12 12.00 69 57.70 
			 Causeway hospital 1 1.00 6 6.00 
			 Craigavon Area hospital 7 6.30 49 44.65 
			 Lagan Valley hospital 1 1.00 2 2.00 
			 Downe hospital 1 1.00 1 1.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum hospital 4 4.00 29 26.30 
			 Daisy Hill hospital 2 1.00 21 17.17 
			 Royal group of hospitals 64 60.85 299 268.65 
			 Tyrone county hospital 1 1.00 10 8.30 
			 Erne hospital 1 1.00 11 8.50 
			 Ulster hospital 8 8.00 54 46.79 
			 Antrim Area hospital 4 n/a 50 34.42 
			 Mid-Ulster hospital 0 0.00 16 13.54 
			 Whiteabbey hospital 1 n/a 15 12.30 
			 Total 119 n/a 679 586.94 
		
	
	n/a = Not available
	Notes:
	1. Headcount figures for nursing staff at the Ulster hospital are approximate as some posts are shared.
	2. The whole-time equivalent figures for doctors working in Antrim area hospital and Whiteabbey hospital are not available (n/a), as the headcount figure includes general consultant physicians with interest and experience in cardiac care, but who are not full-time Cardiologists.
	3. WTE: Whole-time equivalent.
	Source:
	NI HSS trusts

Cardiology

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care there are in (i) Antrim Area Hospital, (ii) Royal Victoria Hospital, (iii) the Belfast City Hospital, (iv) Craigavon Hospital and (v) Altnagelvin Hospital.

Shaun Woodward: The information required is provided in the table.
	
		Number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care in (i) Antrim area Hospital, (ii) Royal Victoria Hospital, (iii) the Belfast City Hospital, (iv) Craigavon Hospital and (v) Altnagelvin Hospital as at October 2005
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 Antrim Area Hospital 4 N/A 50 34.42 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 64 60.85 299 268.65 
			 Belfast City Hospital 12 12.00 69 57.70 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 7 6.30 49 44.65 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 12 12.00 47 39.62 
			 Total 99 91.15 514 445.04 
		
	
	Notes:
	l. The Whole-Time Equivalent figures for doctors working in Antrim Area Hospital are not available (N/A), as the headcount figure includes General Consultant Physicians with interest and experience in Cardiac Care, but who are not full-time Cardiologists.
	2. WTE: Whole-Time Equivalent.
	Source:
	NIHSS Trusts

Clinical Academics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the number of clinical academics teaching medical students in the Province has been in the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available for the last 10 years.
	Available figures show that there were 59 clinical academics in 2002 and the there are currently 64. The numbers are likely to increase to 68 by the end of the current academic year with the planned expansion of the medical school.

Departmental Expenditure

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in each financial year since 2001.

David Hanson: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department.

Shaun Woodward: All new recruits to the general grades in the Northern Ireland Office must satisfy a minimum academic standard. Other new recruits have to meet different requirements or standards relevant to the specialism of the specific post/grade.

Departmental Stationery

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste content; and by what date this target is expected to be achieved;
	(2)  what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by the Department in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post consumer waste this paper contained;
	(3)  what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled of which a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste content; and by what date this target is expected to be achieved.

Peter Hain: For internal printing and copying the Department uses a standard paper manufactured from 100 per cent. recycled paper with a minimum 75 per cent. post consumer waste. Instructions will be issued shortly on the quality of paper to be used in printed publication sourced outside the Department. Figures for the use of paper and its manufacturer content in 2003–04 and 2004–05 are not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 Departments of the devolved administration.

Departmental Stationery

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, stating in each case (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the (A) recycled and (B) post-consumer recycled content of each paper.

Peter Hain: The Department acquires its copier paper, stationery, envelopes and paper for reports from call off contracts established by the central procurement directorate, DFP. The five main contractors are Banner Business Supplies, Office Depot, Antalis, McNaughton and Supplies Team. The copier paper is 80g/m 2 Evolve manufactured from 100 percent. recycled paper with a minimum 75 percent. post consumer waste. Envelopes are normally 80 percent. to 100 percent. recycled with at least 60 percent. to 85 percent. being post consumer waste.
	This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 Departments of the devolved administration.

Doctors

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors in Northern Ireland are unemployed; and how many vacancies there are for doctors in the NHS.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of unemployed doctors in the NHS is not available.
	Information on the number of vacancies for doctors in the NHS is provided as follows.
	
		Number of current and long-term vacancies for doctors by grade in the NI HPSS as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Current Long-term 
			 Grade Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 Consultant 83 80.90 67 65.50 
			 Associate Specialist 1 0.50 0 0.00 
			 Staff Grade 30 29.00 16 16.00 
			 PRHO 14 14.00 0 0.00 
			 SHO 79 79.00 0 0.00 
			 Medical Officer 6 0.93 1 0.20 
			 Total 213 204.33 84 81.70 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. General Practitioner vacancies are not included in the table as the concept of a General Practitioner vacancy no longer exists under the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract. In the case of a single-handed practice, if the General Practitioner retires, resigns or is not available to practice the Primary Care Organisation (PCO) has an obligation to ensure that services are provided through contract with a new or existing provider.
	2. A current vacancy is an unoccupied post, which at 31 March 2005 was vacant and which the organisation was trying to fill. A long-term vacancy is an unoccupied post which at 31 March 2005 had been vacant for three months or more, and which the organisation was actively trying to fill.
	3. WTE: Whole-Time Equivalent.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts

Domestic Violence

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government plan to take to increase protection for victims of domestic violence.

David Hanson: On 10 October 2005 I launched the Northern Ireland regional strategy and accompanying action plan "Tackling Violence at Home". The strategy sets out the Government's long-term commitment to address the serious problem of domestic violence and abuse.
	A key aim of the strategy is to improve services and support for all victims of domestic violence and to advise victims about these services. The action plan accompanying the strategy sets out in more detail our specific plans, but these include media campaigns to encourage more victims to report incidences of domestic violence, informing victims about the remedies available to them under both the civil and criminal law and having criminal justice agencies to publish and implement victim policies.
	These initiatives build on a number of other recent important protections introduced through legislation. Under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, the PSNI can now arrest persons for common assault offences. In addition, from 15 November, the maximum penalty in respect of a breach of a protective order will be increased from three to six months imprisonment.
	Finally, by March 2006, we propose to produce guidelines for issue to all Northern Ireland hon. Members and Members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly both to raise awareness but also to provide them with information and advice about how to handle approaches from victims.

Education and Library Boards

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance is given to education and library boards in respect of bills received after the end of the financial year that occurred during that year.

Angela Smith: The Department expects the board to account for bills received after the end of the financial year that occurred during that year in accordance with standard resource accounting best practice and to prepare their accounts as set out in the Accounts Direction issued to them on 22 July 2004 and in Government Accounting Northern Ireland (GANI).

Football Banning Orders

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many football supporters in Northern Ireland are subject to football banning orders preventing travel to football matches outside the UK.

David Hanson: Football banning orders are not available to the courts in Northern Ireland, though I am currently considering their adoption in this jurisdiction.

Green Ministers

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what (a) work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months and (b) meetings the Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in his official capacity within that role;
	(2)  if he will list the meetings his officials have attended concerning the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Angela Smith: The Minister of State (Lord Rooker) became a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE (SD)) in June 2005.
	Although the Government publish the title, membership and terms of reference of cabinet committees, it has been the practice of successive governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.
	Over the last three months the Minister has presided over the development of the emerging NI sustainable development strategy. He has attended many meetings and events where he has been pro-active in making the linkages to and promoting the principles of sustainable development.
	For example, he hosted a reception for NI environmental NGO's where the issue of sustainable development was a key feature of his speech, he spoke at the Goldin Waste Fair to promote business opportunities in the recycling sector, and last month, when he was unable to attend a Consumer Council event on sustainable consumerism, he recorded a DVD to be used as an introduction to the conference.
	Because of its cross-cutting nature, sustainable development is a consideration in most meetings attended by DOE officials. Officials have been engaging with key stakeholders in the business, community and voluntary sectors along with central and local government colleagues in progressing the forthcoming strategy due for launch on 13 December 2005.

Health Expenditure

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the health expenditure per head of population in Northern Ireland has been in each year since 2000.

Shaun Woodward: The public expenditure on health per head of population in the province for the last five financial years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Expenditure per head of population 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,030 
			 2001–02 1,109 
			 2002–03 1,231 
			 2003–04 1,367 
			 2004–05 1,447

Illegal Waste

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of illegal cross-border waste disposal have been identified in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Since the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service took on responsibility for the regulation of illegal waste activity in October 2002, approximately 53 illegal waste disposal sites containing waste from the Republic of Ireland have been detected in Northern Ireland and investigated by the Environment and Heritage Service. There was one site detected in 2002, 32 sites in 2003, 17 sites in 2004 and three in 2005. There are no records for 2001.
	The Environment and Heritage Service will continue to search for other sites concealed in remote locations and rigorously apply the law.

Low Birth Rate Babies

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many low birth rate babies there were in each region in the most recent year in which figures are available expressed as (a) a percentage of all births and (b) the number ranked in descending order.

Shaun Woodward: The number of low birth weight babies that were born within each Health Board for 2004–05 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Health Board (a) Percentage of all births (b) Number of low birth weight babies 
		
		
			 Eastern 6.68 543 
			 Northern 5.96 342 
			 Southern 6.04 291 
			 Western 5.37 203 
			 Northern Ireland 6.14 1,379 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All births and low birth weight births include live and still.
	2. A low birth weight baby is regarded as weighing less than 2,500 grams.
	Source:
	Child Health System (CHS)

M2

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to alleviate congestion on the M2 out of Sandyknowles.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm Mckibbin to Dr. William McCrea dated 27 October 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary question about "what steps he is taking to alleviate congestion on the M2 out of Sandyknowes". I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Roads Service plans to widen the Belfast-bound carriageway of the M2 motorway to create an additional lane between the Sandyknowes and Greencastle junctions. This will make it easier for traffic to join the M2 from the Sandyknowes junction, particularly during the morning peak traffic, and also provide greater capacity on the Belfast-bound section of the M2 towards Greencastle. Construction of these improvements on the M2 is expected to start during 2008.
	The £30 million M2 Widening Scheme is one of three schemes forming part of the £100 million Roads Service Design, Build, Finance and Operate Package 1, along with the Ml/Westlink Project and the Antrim Hospital slip roads.
	I can also advise that the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan proposes modifications to the Sandyknowes roundabout to minimise conflicts between different traffic movements and afford greater priority to the strategic M2 and A8 movements. Roads Service is currently investigating various design options.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Orthodontics

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what orthodontic treatment is available on the NHS to the people of Northern Ireland; and what the charges are for each type of treatment.

Shaun Woodward: Health service orthodontic treatment is available to everyone here on the basis of clinical need. Most treatment is given following a referral from a general dental practitioner to a specialist orthodontist or a practitioner with orthodontic experience. The fees for each type of treatment are as follows:
	
		Intra-oral appliances £
		
			 Appliance Patient charge per appliance 
		
		
			 Removable spring and/or screw type appliance 87.80 
			 Simple fixed type appliance 84.20 
			 Fixed multiband or multibracket appliance 246.24 
			 Functional appliance 151.00 
			 Bite plane appliance 64.44 
			   
			 Additional fee for extra-oral traction or anchorage reinforcement, where necessary 
			 Extra-oral traction 35.84 
			 Anchorage reinforcement 35.84 
		
	
	
		Retention £
		
			  Charge 
		
		
			 (1) Supervision of retention for a period of not less than 5 complete calendar months 
			 Per course of treatment 22.24 
			 Per additional period(23) 11.16 
			   
			 (2) Retention appliance(24) (fee per appliance)  
			 Removable retainer in acrylic resin 43.40 
			 Fixed or bonded retainer 49.48 
			 Removable pressure formed retainer 35.20 
		
	
	(23) Additional fee for each further period of supervision of not less than two complete calendar months, normally subject to a maximum of two such periods.
	(24) Normally only one removable or one fixed retainer per arch and only provided after active appliance treatment.
	Repairs to orthodontic appliances
	No charge.
	
		Additions to or inclusions in orthodontic appliances of an artificial tooth to replace a missing natural tooth £
		
			 Addition or inclusion of an artificial tooth (including any associated gum) Charge for each tooth 
		
		
			 To a fixed appliance or fixed retainer 9.60 
			 To a removable appliance or removable retainer 14.24 
		
	
	
		Replacement of appliances lost or damaged beyond repair £
		
			 Appliance Cost per appliance 
		
		
			 Space maintainer or retention appliance 34.60 
			 Removable spring and/or screw type appliance 47.08 
			 Simple fixed type appliance 48.24 
			 Fixed multiband or multibracket appliance 90.36 
			 Functional appliance 55.72 
		
	
	Any other orthodontic treatment
	Such fee as the Dental Committee of the Central Services Agency may determine

Road Tax Detection

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been caught by road tax detection devices in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: On-the-road detection of vehicle excise duty evasion is undertaken by the PSNI, traffic wardens and through Driver and Vehicle Licensing's (DVLNI) Automated Number Plate Readers (ANPRs).
	Figures for ANPR detection in the last three years are 2002–03—5,501, 2003–04—6,024 and 2004–05—12,543.

School Buses

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to legislate to limit the number of pupils travelling on school buses to the number of seats fitted on each bus.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment is currently considering in detail the implications of implementing such a proposal in its assessment of the four key recommendations of the Northern Ireland Assembly's home to school transport public inquiry. It is expected that the findings of this work, which is being carried out in partnership with the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Education, will be published later this year. No decisions on the way forward will be made until this assessment is complete.

Suicides

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides there were in each region in the most recent year for which figures are available by young people aged 15 to 24, broken down by sex and expressed as (a) a percentage of all suicides and (b) the number ranked in descending order.

Angela Smith: The following tables give the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland for 2004 due to 'suicide and self-inflicted injury' 1 or 'undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted' 2 by local government district, sex and age-group. Mortality data for the 2004 registration year are provisional until the publication of the Annual Report of the Registrar General in autumn 2005.
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes X60-X84, Y87.0.
	2 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes Y10-Y34, Y87.2
	
		Number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2004 due to 'suicide and self-inflicted injury' or 'undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted' for males aged 15–24 by local government district
		
			  Male deaths due to "suicide and self-inflicted injury" or "undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted" (2004) 
			 Local government district Aged 15–24 All ages Percentage 
		
		
			 Belfast 7 21 33 
			 Ballymena 2 4 50 
			 Newry and Mourne 1 9 11 
			 Craigavon 1 8 13 
			 Banbridge 1 5 20 
			 Derry 1 5 20 
			 Omagh 1 4 25 
			 Cookstown 1 3 33 
			 Ballymoney 1 2 50 
			 Coleraine 1 2 50 
			 Limavady 1 2 50 
			 Strabane 1 2 50 
			 Ards 0 6 0 
			 Armagh 0 5 0 
			 Lisburn 0 5 0 
			 Antrim 0 3 0 
			 Down 0 3 0 
			 Fermanagh 0 3 0 
			 Larne 0 3 0 
			 Newtownabbey 0 3 0 
			 North Down 0 3 0 
			 Castlereagh 0 2 0 
			 Dungannon 0 1 0 
			 Magherafelt 0 1 0 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 — 
			 Moyle 0 0 — 
			 Northern Ireland 19 105 18 
		
	
	
		Number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2004 due to 'suicide and self-inflicted injury' and 'undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted' for females aged 15–24 by local government district
		
			  Female deaths due to "suicide and self-inflicted injury" or "undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted" (2004) 
			 Local government district Aged 15–24 All ages Percentage 
		
		
			 Belfast 3 11 27 
			 Derry 1 6 77 
			 Strabane 1 1 100 
			 Fermanagh 0 4 0 
			 Ards 0 3 0 
			 Ballymena 0 2 0 
			 Castlereagh 0 2 0 
			 Down 0 2 0 
			 Lisburn 0 2 0 
			 Antrim 0 1 0 
			 Coleraine 0 1 0 
			 Craigavon 0 1 0 
			 Dungannon 0 1 0 
			 Limavady 0 1 0 
			 Newtownabbey 0 1 0 
			 North Down 0 1 0 
			 Omagh 0 1 0 
			 Armagh 0 0 — 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 — 
			 Banbridge 0 0 — 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 — 
			 Cookstown 0 0 — 
			 Larne 0 0 — 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 — 
			 Moyle 0 0 — 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 0 — 
			 Northern Ireland 5 41 12